Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law allowing some Arizona doctors to be temporarily licensed in California to perform abortions. The law, Senate Bill 233, took effect immediately, announced without a signing ceremony.
Top Points
1. **Law Overview:** The law permits licensed Arizona physicians who have performed abortions in the last two years to apply for a temporary California license, which they can receive within five days. They can provide abortion care in California until November 30, 2024.
2. **California's Stance on Reproductive Rights:** Newsom and the state Legislature aim to position California as a haven for reproductive rights and abortion care, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion in 2022.
3. **Response to Arizona's Abortion Ban:** The law responds to Arizona's 1864 abortion ban, recently upheld by its Supreme Court but later overturned by the legislature. Despite this, procedural delays mean the ban will still be in effect temporarily, and California's law aims to provide care during this period. Critics argue the law is unnecessary since Arizona's Attorney General has stated she will not enforce the ban during its brief effect.
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